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Dana White explains why Fedor Emelianenko never came to the UFC

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Dana White explains why Fedor Emelianenko never came to the UFC

Dana
White told the story behind UFC's failed negotiations with Fedor
Emelianenko. | 📷: Bellator MMA



Dana
White doesn't regret Fedor
Emelianenko’s failed move to the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Emelianenko is considered one of the greatest fighters of all time
who never fought in the UFC. White recently revealed that he wanted
to make a fight between the Russian and Brock
Lesnar. However, they failed to sign Emelianenko despite
offering him a lot of money.

Dana White discusses the failed UFC negotiations with
heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko

White claims that the offer was so massive that he and Lorenzo
Fertitta were relieved that Emelianenko turned them down. The UFC
head honcho doesn't regret the failed negotiations.

“We never got a deal done with Fedor,†White said on “The Pivot”
podcast.

“When me and Lorenzo got on the plane and left wherever we were, we
looked at each other and said, ‘Thank God they said no,' because we
offered him so much money. You get in that room and you just try to
get that deal done… We wanted to do him vs. Brock Lesnar at the
time. I don't regret it.â€

When the UFC acquired
Pride in 2007, Emelianenko was the one megastar that didn't
sign with the promotion. While “The Last Emperor” fought in
Strikeforce,
he moved on when the UFC bought the promotion in 2011. Emelianenko
finished the last stretch of his career in Bellator,
hanging up his gloves following a knockout loss to Ryan Bader in
2023.

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MMA

UFC 334 odds: Ciryl Gane, Kayla Harrison favored in title fights

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UFC 334 odds: Ciryl Gane, Kayla Harrison favored in title fights
UFC
334's lineup has been revealed, as have the opening odds.

In the main event, Ciryl Gane
is set to defend the
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title against
Josh
Hokit on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The
card is co-headlined by a bantamweight title fight between Kayla
Harrison and Amanda
Nunes.

BetOnline has released its current odds for
both championship bouts, with Gane favored over Hokit and Harrison
favored over Nunes.

UFC 334 betting lines move for Gane-Hokit and
Harrison-Nunes

Gane opened at -150 and is now at -235. The Frenchman is favored to
beat the undefeated Hokit, who is currently listed at +195. Both
fighters secured finishes at
UFC Freedom 250 in their last outings. Gane was promoted to
undisputed champ after Tom
Aspinall vacated the belt.

The Harrison-Nunes line was originally released in November 2025
after they were announced for
UFC 324, with Harrison opening at -155 and Nunes at +135. The
fight fell through after Harrison sustained a neck injury and
they're finally set to collide in November.

The current women's 135-pound champ is now at -210, while the Hall
of Famer has dropped to +175.

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Arman Tsarukyan crushes Mauricio Ruffy, strengthens UFC title-shot case

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Arman Tsarukyan crushes Mauricio Ruffy, strengthens UFC title-shot case
Arman
Tsarukyan cemented his status as the No.1 contender at
lightweight in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship with a first-round knockout
win.

Tsarukyan knocked out Mauricio
Ruffy with back-to-back elbows in the dying seconds of the
opening round in UFC
331's co-main event at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, further
strengthening his case for a title shot.

Tsarukyan finishes Ruffy with back-to-back elbows in the UFC
331 co-main event

Tsarukyan admitted the opening minutes of the bout were challenging
after Ruffy connected with some clean strikes, but he remained
confident that he would eventually find a finish.

“I feel great,†Tsarukyan said in a post-fight interview. “I was
looking for a finish and even the first round was kind of rough,
but I knew, like, I'm going to finish him. First punches, it's
always hard to defend because both of us, we're fresh. But Ruffy is
one of the best strikers, you know, we shouldn't forget about
that.â€

“The Batman†had swelling around his eye courtesy of a punch from
Ruffy, but managed to mix his martial arts and find the finish.

“I'm such a well-rounded fighter,†Tsarukyan added. “I know, like,
with wrestling, only wrestling, you cannot win the fights. You've
got to mix it up. I made the best statement that I could do
today.â€

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Dana White fires back at claims he doesnt like Tom Aspinall

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Dana White fires back at claims he doesn't like Tom Aspinall
Dana
White has pushed back against the idea that he doesn't like
Tom
Aspinall.

This comes after Aspinall vacated the
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title amid ongoing
complications from an eye injury that prevented him from returning
to competition. He has also linked up with Eddie Hearn, who has
repeatedly criticized aspects of Aspinall's contract and the UFC
model.

The UFC boss explains why fans may have gotten the wrong idea
about Tom Aspinall

Speaking after UFC
331, White dismissed suggestions that he has a personal issue
with the former champion. He acknowledged Aspinall's injury and
revealed that the Brit is seeking further medical advice.

“No, that's not the case,†White said at the post-fight presser.
“It's the furthest thing from the truth. He's going through stuff
with the doctor. He knows it's going to be a while before he comes
back. This is totally normal.â€

White claims that certain misunderstood comments and reactions may
have created the impression that the two don’t get along.

“I think because of what I might have said or what he might have
responded to, what I said after the thing, that people think that I
don't like Tom,†White added. “It's the furthest thing from the
truth. I have no reason to not like Tom. Tom's never done anything
for me not to like him.â€

White emphasized that if he doesn't like someone, it'll be clear to
all.

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